Microsoft’s new Office

Microsoft recently showed off new features that it is working on for its next version of Office, dubbed Office 10. Among the features was a search engine, PowerPoint print preview, and enhanced cut-and-paste and word-count features.

What's with print preview coming from Microsoft lately? Did they hire a guy who specializes in it? For example, Internet Explorer version 5.5 shows off the much touted Print Preview feature. Speaking of which, I've actually had a few problems with that feature as of late so I think MS needs to rethink however it's implemented it. Also, why is it taking Microsoft so long to roll out print preview on all of its products? After all, it has been available on its competitors' products for quite some time now. I actually thought that it already existed in PowerPoint. I guess not.

What I find most interesting is the lack of any mention of features that were rumored as far back as May. These features included completely redesigning Office and the addition of speech technologies.

I guess at this point there's still time, though, since the product is just going into beta now. I would expect that it will be loaded with “to put this file on the 'Net click here” features throughout, too.

USER COMMENTS 19 comment(s)

Print Preview(9:15am EST Fri Jul 28 2000)I like the new print preview feature on IE 5.5 and havent had any trouble with it. I like it because when you print off the web, sometimes there is nothing you want on the 2nd page, just an ad that is on the web site, and you end up throwing that sheet away. With Print Preview, you know if you need to print page 2 or not. – by Justin

hmm…….(9:17am EST Fri Jul 28 2000)i hope they'll have new animated helper thingsdamn those things are soo coolmaybe they should get a stripper or something – by [RiCePoT]

Animated Helper(10:22am EST Fri Jul 28 2000)The animated helper may seem pointless and annoying to those of us who have been using Office, and computers for that matter, since the early days, but for a new user starting out, it is helpful for a little while at least. It's a set of training wheels; you can get rid of it when you're ready. – by crkscrew

DO we need it??(12:13pm EST Fri Jul 28 2000)I Mean really, and last year i didnt run out a get office 2000 BECAUSE OFFICE 97 WORKS FINE!!!!!!! sorry. How much new can one do with word processors. That is there is a Voice to text thing that works. But thats not wreath $700 for it. other then that I'm sticking with if office 97. – by The Super “Mikey”

What do you expect?(12:18pm EST Fri Jul 28 2000)what do you people expect? when the rolled out Win2k they showed off thier new thing called “Organizational Units” something completly new….. 'cept for novel who's had OU's for how long now? MS takes old stuff, doesn't change it, puts it in thier products and says “hey!! we did some kool shit here!! it's never been done before by anyone!!!” what they forget is that they should put “never been done before by anyone here at MS” oh well, – by The TonTo

What do you expect?(12:19pm EST Fri Jul 28 2000)what do you people expect? when the rolled out Win2k they showed off thier new thing called “Organizational Units” something completly new….. 'cept for novel who's had OU's for how long now? MS takes old stuff, doesn't change it, puts it in thier products and says “hey!! we did some kool shit here!! it's never been done before by anyone!!!” what they forget is that they should put “never been done before by anyone here at MS” oh well, I still refuse to downgrade to Windows 98 or Win2k… I'll stick with Win95 cuz most of the bugs have been found(not fixed, but found) – by The TonTo

What do you expect?(12:20pm EST Fri Jul 28 2000)what do you people expect? when the rolled out Win2k they showed off thier new thing called “Organizational Units” something completly new….. 'cept for novel who's had OU's for how long now? MS takes old stuff, doesn't change it, puts it in thier products and says “hey!! we did some kool shit here!! it's never been done before by anyone!!!” what they forget is that they should put “never been done before by anyone here at MS” oh well, I still refuse to downgrade to Windows 98 or Win2k… I'll stick with Win95 cuz most of the bugs have been found(not fixed, but found)

hey…. maybe in Office10… they'll have a way to make that damn paper clip die a really graphic death…. That'd make me a fan… hell, that's worth the cost of buyin it – by The TonTo

How much? How many bugs?(12:56pm EST Fri Jul 28 2000) Well how much is it goint to cost now, for a few more features? And how many bugs again? I preffer getting my hands on Star Office from SUN site. It may not be as complete yet, but at least it is free and open source now !!!! :-))) Honetsly, i have ennough of paying big prices for little improvements. Some compagnies bring out new version of products every year now! v 97 v 98 v 99 and it is not even worth it since they barely improve the product or just pile-up new features but do not resolve the bugs. But it gives them regular cash flow…. Open Source is the way to go. – by Mr.Hat

How much for how many bugs?(1:03pm EST Fri Jul 28 2000) Well how much is it goint to cost now, for a few more features? And how many bugs again? I preffer getting my hands on Star Office from SUN site. It may not be as complete yet, but at least it is free and open source now !!!! :-))) Honetsly, i have ennough of paying big prices for little improvements.

Some compagnies bring out new version of products every year now! v 97 v 98 v 99 and it is not even worth it since they barely improve the product or just pile-up new features but do not resolve the bugs. But it gives them regular cash flow….

Open Source is the way to go. – by Mr.Hat

How much? How many bugs?(1:03pm EST Fri Jul 28 2000) Well how much is it goint to cost now, for a few more features? And how many bugs again? I preffer getting my hands on Star Office from SUN site. It may not be as complete yet, but at least it is free and open source now !!!! :-))) Honetsly, i have ennough of paying big prices for little improvements. Some compagnies bring out new version of products every year now! v 97 v 98 v 99 and it is not even worth it since they barely improve the product or just pile-up new features but do not resolve the bugs. But it gives them regular cash flow…. Open Source is the way to go. – by Mr.Hat

You people suck(1:05pm EST Fri Jul 28 2000)Im gonna laugh my ass off at all of you because youre all party-poopers… Im sick of MS bashing. Who else makes products that are as intuitive and feature-rich as them. NO ONE!!

Im running Win2K Advanced Server, why? Because its the best. I could run Solaris or something similar, but I love the Windows GUI, and since Im familiar with it, I set my webserver and proxy server up in minutes.

Now, back to the topic of Office 10. I for one, will use it. I love Office 2000, and its a BIG imporovement over Office 97. I work at two jobs where I MUST use all the features in Word, PowerPoint, etc etc…. and without Office 2000, I wouldnt be able to do my work. We are completely dependant on it. Office 10 will be even better.

My only wish was that MS would write tighter code so that when I close Office, I get ALL the resources back that it was using.

Other than that, MS you can invade my computer anytime.

-Josh. – by Jewsh

Agreed(2:39pm EST Fri Jul 28 2000)You may laugh at MS and criticize them for bugs or whatever, but I don't see much else out there. Anyone using Wordperfect Office? How about Staroffice -it's only a 79-105 MB download (I believe you can order a CD too, but then again who the hell would want to). Or how's that new Netscape browser working out? I'd be criticizing software companies for being the least creative part of the computer industry. – by John

Competition(4:54am EST Mon Jul 31 2000)Hmm I do agre that Microsoft does create the best and most intuitive office products, my only concern is actually the competition…I would like Microsoft to have real competition in the office line of products.They DO have competition in operating system since Windows are not too well suited for very specific tasks, or at least other operating systems like Solaris and Linux are more easy to tailor for a very specific role. – by Mort

Wait…(7:24am EST Mon Jul 31 2000)I suggest they wait and improve the testing phase. They get good and bad products, all do. But, I think that everybody is tired of the mistakes, fixes, patches, holes, warnings, ect. I would like to be surprised ONE TIME. Just one time a completely finished product that works with no flaws, good memory managment, and no need to constenly look for patches and fixes. – by Tom

Tip for buying good microsoft products(10:29am EST Mon Jul 31 2000)All good Microsoft products have names that end in “Service release x” where x is a number > 2

Note: May be abbreviated as SR-x or SRx or use the words “Service pack” instead of “Service Release” – by Opinionated

Excuses, excuses…(2:47pm EST Mon Jul 31 2000)I still think MS has no excuse for releasing such shoddy software (security holes, memory leaks, etc…) I mean they own like >80% of the market! Who's so hot on their heals that they're rushing developement (& testing) ?? Which brings me to my next point: Other companies DO have the innovation that MS has. They just don't have the cash flow or market muscle. – by Eyad

I'll get it because…(7:43pm EST Mon Jul 31 2000)My college has an agreement with MS. It will only cost me $5.00!!! For that price, I can afford to have the newest and most totally unnecessary MS products! Yippee!!! – by Lucky Dude